Over 1,400 URLs Blocked During Operation Sindoor: Ashwini Vaishnaw

New Delhi: More than 1,400 URLs have been blocked during Operation Sindoor as a part of collective effort to combat fake news, fake accounts and disinformation regarding the Operation Sindoor and Pahalgam terror attack, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (July 30).

While replying to a starred question raised by BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, Minister provided details of measures or action taken against the media platforms or individuals for their reportage or disinformation or spread of false news on the Operation Sindoor.

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Government listed out the active steps it has taken to counter such misinformation campaigns. These include: providing authentic information through periodic media briefings; establishing a 24×7 Control Room for inter-ministerial coordination and real-time information dissemination to all media stakeholders; monitoring social media platforms and online news sources through PIB’s Factcheck unit; and blocking websites, social media handles, and posts for propagating false and potentially harmful information.

Government has issued necessary orders to block websites, social media handles, and posts in the interest of the nation under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

“Ministry also issued directions for blocking of over 1,400 URLs on digital media during Operation Sindoor. The content of these URLs included false, misleading, anti-India news content, communally sensitive content primarily from Pakistan-based social media accounts and inciteful content against Indian Armed Forces,” the Minister said.

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Besides, the government has also issued guidance for media outlets to abstain from showing live coverage of defence operations and movement of security forces in the interest of national security.